Get ready for food, contests, fun at annual Oley Valley Community Fair.
Dear fair friends:
72 years and counting! Just where does the time go?
I am so excited once again to be writing this president’s message because that can only mean one thing. Yes, that means we are very close to another fun filled three days of the iconic Oley Valley Community Fair. It means the smell of french fries, the gathering of friends and family, the friendly competition and, most importantly, the Oley Valley and neighboring communities coming together again. I cannot even begin to tell you the joy the fair brings to me when I step back and just watch all the kids having fun and all the families enjoying some time away from the hectic lifestyle that unfortunately we all have become accustomed to.
This past spring at an annual International Association of Fairs conference, I was asked to participate in a seminar titled “Partnering with your Community.” For those of you who know me well enough, you know I enjoy talking about the Oley Valley Fair. How fulfilling that was to stand in front of an audience and show PowerPoint slides of just how our fair partners with our community. It was so nice to have people who have never been to the Oley Fair say that it looks like we have something very special. Isn’t that the truth!
However, that “special” fair we have would not be remotely possible without all of you who we consider our partners. Thank you to everyone who makes the Oley Fair a success!
This year, we are excited to share with you a new contest. Have you noticed those small painted rocks that are all around and you are encouraged to pick them up and move them around the world? Well, start painting those rocks of your favorite farm animals, as this year we are introducing this as a new Oley Fair contest. I encourage you to read the rules and familiarize yourself with the eligibility and overall general rules of the contest. Also this year, we are excited to partner with the Oley Valley High School FFA Program as they will participate in the opening ceremonies Thursday at noon.
I would like to take this time to thank our sponsors who always make this fair possible. You will find them listed in the fair book and on the fairgrounds during the fair. We are also thrilled to have returning to us our Blue Ribbon Sponsors, BB&T Bank, Reading Eagle Co. and Brook Ledge/ Gotwals/Expressway. Thank you to our newest Red Ribbon Sponsor, Mast Roofing and Construction, and our returning Yellow Ribbon Sponsor, Deka Batteries.
I cannot wait to see you at the 2018 Oley Valley Community Fair!
I cannot even begin to tell you the joy the fair brings to me when I step back and just watch all the kids having fun and all the families enjoying some time away from the hectic lifestyle that unfortunately we all have become accustomed to.
Sincerely,
Kevin D. Bieber, president